Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-30
THESE FIGURES REPRESENT THE
NUMBER OF MILES
Of Railroad that were Constructed
in Kansas in the Year
Just Past.
Eighteen Eighty-Seven the Banner Year
in Railroad Building - 12,04
Miles of New Road Laid.
Eastern and Western Roads Come to Terms
as to Division of Freight from
the East TO the West

CHICAGO. Dec 29.-The Railway Age to-
morrow will say; ''The year 1887 has sur
passed all other years in the extent Of
railroad mileage constructed. When. six
months ago, the prediction was made in
these columns that the total new mileage
for the year would not be less than 10000
miles, with. the likelihood of surprising
the record of 1882, the year of greatest rail
way construction in the history of the
country, it was not generally believed
But the figures obtained by careful in
vestigation throughout the year, and
confirmed by official information to prove
the prediction. have been more than
warranted. Our returns show that during
1881 no less than T., "a miles OF new main
line track We're added 10 the railway sys-
TEN of the United States. No account be-
ing taken OF the hundreds of miles
Of sidetrack built, nor of the thousands of
of miles OF main line track relaid. While
the search has been unusually thorough,
and the totals cOrrobOrate the record kept
from week to week, it is not improbable
that some scattering additions may yet be
received so that ii Is safe to say that dur
new main line track were constructed.
When in 1882, during period OF eXtraOr-
binary activity, ! DIS miles Of new road
were built. il was generally believed that
these figures would not again be eqUalled.
In the following year, 1883, the new con
StrIiction fell TO G.,4i miles, and Ill 1854 to
3 50 and in 1850 to 3.60S miles. The year
1856 witnessed a considerable revival of
activity, and 5000 miles OF new road were
built.
4 recapitulation of the construction in
the different sections of the country shows
that the greater part OF this prOdlg ious in
crease OF railway mas taken place IN few
western states.
New England and New York contribute
scarcely anything TO the grand total. The
great middle states add very little, and in
the southern states not as large aS many
anticipated, although Alabama presents IA
fine record with over 800 miles; Georgia
adds go miles, Florida nearly 300 and Ken
lucky and North Carolina each little less
than that.
The northwestern states, including
Michigan Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota,
have shown very considerable activity.
but The great rush OF railway building has
been in the central belt west of the Mis-
souri,.
Kansas leads with total of 900 miles.
Nebraska comes next with l,lUl, almost
in order come the following Colorado,
SIS: Dakota. 80; Michigan, 100; Montana,
GIG: Missouri sol. Indian Territory, 100,
ana 50 on. Four states and two territor-
les, namely: Kansas. Texas, Nebraska,
Colorado, Dakota and Montana, together
show an addition of over $500 miles. or
about one-half of the entire year : mileage
of the country.
Many of the lines have been built
through comparatively level country, re
curing bat little grading and bridge
bUilding. out on the other hand, many OF
the lines have been very costly. For eX
ample those over the Rocky mountains:
in colorado. the Southern Pacific extern
sion: III northern California, the Atchis01,
Kansas * Chicago extension; the Northern
Pacific work in the Cascade mountains,
and Others. Moreover, several of the con-
panieS shave purchased costly terminal
facilities in large cities, while nearly all
have made extensive purchases Of
equipment. 1t is probably fair to As
sumo that the total cost OF
roadway. bridges. station buildings, termi-
nal facilities, and equipments OF these
new lines. averaged SO, 800 per mile ut
which rate ii appears that not FAR from
So. 800 900 have been expended on the
lines completed during the year The
money which has thus been expended has
temporarily employed a large army OF
workmen aud has also furnished perlna-
Hent employment to another great army,
probably aGGregating $500 persons
The railway mileage of the nlted
States at the commencement of lNr1 was
stated 10 be l31.9e1 miles, The extension
for the year here recorded increase 1t TO
30, 40 miles.